New help is being offered for first responders in Massachusetts who may be suffering from invisible wounds, as there is concern that the coronavirus pandemic is only adding to the emotional toll they take.
On Tuesday, Steward Health Care will formally announce a hotline for police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other first responders who are seeking physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral support.
"First responders have a suicide rate that's 20% above the average public," said Brendan Hayden, vice president of Steward Health Care. "Most suicides start at a younger age with first responders, and 30% of first responders have some form of (post-traumatic stress disorder)."
Methuen Fire Chief Tim Sheehy, who has been a firefighter for almost 30 years, has seen the signs of emotional trauma and has witnessed suicides within his department.